Perhaps it’s a sign of age, but I keep coming back to this topic: What is a successful life? Put it another way, what do we have to do now to be certain of two things:
First that it will be a good day when we stand before God and give an account.
Perhaps it’s a sign of age, but I keep coming back to this topic: What is a successful life? Put it another way, what do we have to do now to be certain of two things:
First that it will be a good day when we stand before God and give an account.
Second that the sort of legacy we leave to our children is one we are happy with. How do we want to be remembered?
When we stand before God, will we hear, “Well done. I’m proud of you.” Or will he shake his head, with a deep sigh? When our kids talk about us will they do so with pride or with amazement at the mess we made of things?
I think one reason I come back to this is that I see so many people – at virtually every age – living like it doesn’t matter. They live as if there were no tomorrow, no accountability, no legacy, and no reason to care what anyone else might think of them. Disappointing.
I’m of the age where I have perhaps more occasion to consider these things than when I was ten or fifteen years younger. I am also of an age when I realize that ten or fifteen years ago was when I should have thought about them. Now is too late to undo some foolish choices I had made then.
One thing is certain: The size of my bank account or my house, the price of my car, and the size of my toy collection are absolutely irrelevant. One who makes these things a focus of life is in the end “foolish”.
In ultimate terms, the number of college degrees or professional certifications is irrelevant. As is the educational and professional success of my children, although I would be pleased to see them do well.
In the end, only one thing matters: Will God find me faithful? Will God find in me a proven character that he can trust and a life that is well lived honoring him, no matter what?
I believe nothing else matters.
Oh. Almost forgot: Success is spelled f-a-i-t-h-f-u-l-n-e-s-s.
Faithfully,
AA.
Second that the sort of legacy we leave to our children is one we are happy with. How do we want to be remembered?
When we stand before God, will we hear, “Well done. I’m proud of you.” Or will he shake his head, with a deep sigh? When our kids talk about us will they do so with pride or with amazement at the mess we made of things?
I think one reason I come back to this is that I see so many people – at virtually every age – living like it doesn’t matter. They live as if there were no tomorrow, no accountability, no legacy, and no reason to care what anyone else might think of them. Disappointing.
I’m of the age where I have perhaps more occasion to consider these things than when I was ten or fifteen years younger. I am also of an age when I realize that ten or fifteen years ago was when I should have thought about them. Now is too late to undo some foolish choices I had made then.
One thing is certain: The size of my bank account or my house, the price of my car, and the size of my toy collection are absolutely irrelevant. One who makes these things a focus of life is in the end “foolish”.
In ultimate terms, the number of college degrees or professional certifications is irrelevant. As is the educational and professional success of my children, although I would be pleased to see them do well.
In the end, only one thing matters: Will God find me faithful? Will God find in me a proven character that he can trust and a life that is well lived honoring him, no matter what?
I believe nothing else matters.
Oh. Almost forgot: Success is spelled f-a-i-t-h-f-u-l-n-e-s-s.
Faithfully,
AA.
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